An exciting new service launched today could significantly improve the school experience for learners who can't read standard print and save time for the teaching staff who support them.
Load2Learn, an online resource delivered by Dyslexia Action and the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), will help schools to better support learners with dyslexia, who are blind or partially sighted, or who have a disability.
Curriculum materials
Curriculum materials across all Key Stages - textbooks, test papers and images - can be downloaded in a range of file formats and then adapted to suit the personal reading needs of students. There are currently over 1,500 titles and 1,000 images to download and documents can be customised to create different print or braille versions.
Around one in ten students [1] struggle to read standard print and this can prevent them from getting the most out of lessons and homework in the same way as their classmates. Despite the hard work of teachers, Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCOs) and support staff, learners do not always get the materials they need, when they need them, leaving them at a disadvantage.
SENCOs, Learning Support Assistants and Local Authority staff using Load2Learn all said that it had helped them to provide more resources for learners, while 79 per cent agreed that the site would save them time [2].
Quick
Sally Appleyard works at an educational resource centre in Hull that produces accessible materials to students in the area. She said: "The main focus for us is to get work to students as quickly as we can. In the past that hasn't always been possible as it can take days to do all the sourcing, scanning, photocopying or printing.
"Load2Learn means instant access; I can get a PDF onto the student's laptop on the same day. It saves us time and frees up staff to concentrate on supporting students. We have already used the resource and will definitely be using it a lot more in this academic year."
Developed with funding from the Department for Education, Load2Learn was designed by the two charities not only to provide accessible curriculum materials but also to offer teaching staff guidance, information and training to support learners with dyslexia, blindness and partial sight. Load2Learn is also planning to provide an online community for teachers, SENCOs and support staff to share resources and best practice.
One in ten
Kevin Geeson, Chief Executive Officer of Dyslexia Action, said; "We know that one in ten of young learners will be disengaged in school, with one in five excluded, unable to access the lessons in the same way as everyone else and affecting their long-term life chances.
"Working with RNIB, we have developed Load2Learn to make it easier for staff to prepare materials for students' personalised learning. We believe that it will make a real difference to students in school affected by dyslexia, who struggle with reading and writing, helping to increase their learning and their self-esteem."
John Godber, Head of Products and Publications at RNIB, said: "Load2Learn is a real breakthrough, offering a practical solution for learners and schools. It would not have happened without the support of parents, children, teaching staff and MPs, who backed our campaign for every child's right to read and to equal educational opportunities.
"At RNIB we are delighted that blind and partially sighted learners who can't read standard print have the chance to start this academic year with access to many more of the same text books as their classmates."
Load2Learn is available to schools for an annual membership which will support continuing development of the service. Prices vary according to the number of pupils in the school.
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[1] Please visit www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk for further information on the number of people who are dyslexic and struggle to read standard print.
[2] Statistics taken from Load2Learn phase two evaluation report. Further statistics available upon request.
The website provides textbooks, images and other resources as Word, audio, EPUB, PDF and CorelDRAW files. The documents can be used with technology that the learner may already have such as laptops, text to speech readers and DAISY players.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Rachel Cafferty, Royal National Institute of Blind People
0207 391 2043 or 0207 391 2223
rachel.cafferty@rnib.org.uk
Madeleine Penney, Dyslexia Action
01784 222336, mpenney@dyslexiaaction.org.uk
About RNIB
Every day around 100 people in the UK start to lose their sight. There are around 2 million people in the UK with sight problems. RNIB is the leading charity working in the UK offering practical support, advice and information for anyone with sight difficulties. If you, or someone you know, has a sight problem RNIB can help. Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk
About Dyslexia Action
Dyslexia Action is a national charity that takes action to change lives by:
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Offering help and support direct to the individual
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Empowering others so they can help the individual affected by dyslexia
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Lobbying to influence change to help the individual affected by dyslexia
We are the UK's leading provider of services and support for people with dyslexia and literacy difficulties, specialising in assessments, teaching, training and consultancy. We also develop and distribute teaching materials and undertake research. We have 25 centres and 97 teaching locations around the UK.
Dyslexia is a hidden disability that not only affects literacy development but can also have an impact on mathematics, memory, organisation and sequencing skills to varying degrees. Dyslexia can occur at any level of intellectual development. It is biological in origin and is seen to run in families. It affects up to 10% of the UK population at some level and can affect anyone of any age and background. Visit www.dyslexiaaction.org.uk